Questions to Master Deshimaru

Question

The principle of reincarnation provides an answer to many of our questions. But Buddhism and Hinduism do not agree on this subject.

Answer

It is true that Buddhism was influenced by the old Indian tradition to some degree. But Buddha himself was not so keen on it. You change your incarnation: that is Buddhism's answer. In Zen, there is no reincarnation, for example, a cat turning into a human being or vice versa. That is a theory from the Indian tradition, and not a very important one, even if it did influence Mahayana Buddhism. Does the soul remain after death? It's a problem for one's consciousness. According to modern physiology, the brain and its cells continue to live for two or three days - maybe, in some dead people, consciousness is not completely dead. The last state of consciousness is very important. You continue on from that state of consciousness. What should be your last thought? If you are accustomed to practicing zazen your last breath will be that of a normal consciousness - without consciousness. In times past, when physiology was not so highly developed, imagination played an important part in the work of philosophers and religious figures: reincarnation, the resurrection of Christ. In Christianity, there is eschatology, belief about the last day of the world that has not come yet. But at the death of each individual the world stops, and one can communicate with eternity.